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No-SKILL Swashbuckling

Aspects

Trouble: Despite being heroes, PCs all have a flaw that humanizes them. Your trouble will bring drama and tension into the game.

Swordplay: Every PC has a unique fencing style. This is represented both by the swordplay aspect, which describes the style narratively and thematically, and by a fencing stunt talked about later on page 8. The swordplay aspect should be evocative of the PC’s overall approach to combat when armed with a blade. It needn’t be incredibly specific but should give everyone at the table an idea of what it looks like or where it comes from.

Family: One’s lineage and family has great importance in the game. There are numerous advantages to being of noble blood but opportunities exist for commoners of skill and bravery, as well. The gentry and the working classes tend to have different skill sets due to upbringing.

Free: Lastly, each PC receives two free aspects that can be used to flesh out the character to your satisfaction.

Refresh, Stunts, and Aspects-only Skills

PCs begin play with 3 refresh, one stunt, and a fencing stunt. Additional stunts can be purchased with refresh on a one-to-one basis.

Unlike Fate Core, this game has no skill list. Instead players use aspects to create the narrative behind, and provide a bonus for, their actions in the game. NPCs and other GM-controlled entities use Approaches. Aspects do everything they do in Fate Core but here they also establish skill bonuses.

When a player takes an action, they begin by declaring which character aspects (hero, trouble, fencing, family, or their free aspects) are relevant to the roll. Each aspect named gives a +1 bonus to the roll. If a character applies three aspects, the character has a Good (+3) bonus.

As an added benefit, the hero aspect always adds a +2 to the action because being a hero is the heart of the game. Go forth and do bold, swashbuckling, daring things!

It’s important to note that none of the aspects selected are invoked—they are merely counted for the purposes of establishing a bonus and may be invoked later. This also means players do not have to pay a fate point simply to roll the dice.

As every PC has a hero aspect and a swordplay aspect, it is reasonable to assume that they will generally have at least a +3 bonus to their roll when engaged in swordplay.

No-Skill Fate?

A few general guidelines are important for playing without a skill list.

First, this means that any character can attempt any action but it is the character’s history—that is, the character’s aspects—that determine their level of proficiency. This means players should be especially aware of how aspects are phrased. It is good to have some overlap, but too much can easily hold a character back in many circumstances.

Second, there should be a consensus from the players at the table about whether an aspect really adds a bonus. Everyone should freely call out unbelievable stretches and bogus attempts. Roleplaying games are collaborative. Work together to build the story.

Third, don’t feel that every aspect used in every action needs an explanation—other players will perk up with questions or objections if something seems suspect and you can explain the aspect’s relevance then. Simply list the aspects and tally the bonus unless there’s an objection at the table.

Lastly, you must establish your bonus before rolling the dice.

The Four Actions

This game uses the four actions from Fate Core. It is important to keep this in mind as some aspects lend themselves to certain actions better than others. Stunts and swordplay often deal specifically with which action is being taken.

Even more than most Fate Core games, the players need to be clear as to what action they are taking when they pick up the dice.

Attacks harm your opponent.

Defense prevents harm.

Create an advantage changes the story for someone’s benefit by introducing new aspects into play.

Overcome removes some obstacle, often an aspect, that stands in the way.

What action is being taken should be clearly stated before the dice are picked up or skill bonuses are tallied.

Turn Order

At the start of a conflict, establish the turn order. Rocketeers tally a bonus from their character aspects as if they were taking an action. Any aspect that implies the character is quick or good at spotting incoming trouble will work. Major NPCs use their Quick approach while mooks default to Mediocre (+0) unless they are skilled at something relevant, like fencing or vigilance. Keep in mind that some swordplay stunt elements may modify a character’s bonus when establishing turn order.

Stunts

Since Three Rocketeers does not have a skill list, stunts need to be handled a little differently than in Fate Core and Fate Accelerated Edition. Rather than providing a bonus to skills or approaches, make references to the four actions and provide a narrative hook for the stunt. Some example stunts follow.

All For One: Because I take the openings my friends give me, once per conflict I get +2 to my next attack after an ally takes out an enemy.

Dual Wield: Because I am trained to use a sword in each hand, when I fight with two swords I use the Main Hand element for each blade.

Former Gendarme: Because I was once a gendarme, I get +1 to create an advantage or overcome when I get help from my former colleagues.

Genius: Because I am the smartest person in the room, I get +2 to overcome puzzles and traps.

Giant: Because I am a giant of a person, I get +2 to overcome actions when I break things.

Idealistic: Because I am idealistic, I gain +2 to defend against intimidation and threats.

Master of Disguise: Because I am a master of disguise with a knack for being in the right place at the right time, once per session I can join a scene already in progress, having posed as a minor character.

One For All!: Because I fight for my friends, when I create an advantage by giving a rallying cry and succeed with style my fellow heroes gain +3 when they invoke the resulting aspect.

Pub Legend: Because I am a legend in bars across the world, I get +2 to create an advantage by gathering information in the pub.

Racing Sloop: Because I have a fast, sleek, racing ship, I gain +2 to overcome actions when I put the pedal to the metal in racing contests.

Rocket Racer: Because I am a master pilot I get +2 to overcome in chases when I fly through narrow or twisting spaces.

Up, Up, and Away: Because I am a high-flying daredevil I get +2 to overcome actions when I perform a swashbuckling maneuver that includes swinging, climbing, or flying.

Swordplay Stunts

In addition to the Swordplay aspect, players can build a custom swordplay stunt. A swordplay stunt consists of four elements: appearance, edge, main hand, and off-hand.

Appearance: The qualities an observer might notice about the fencing style. It can be flamboyant or crude, straightforward or sly. Appearance is often used to create an advantage.

Edge: A particular trick or set of maneuvers the fencer uses to seize the upper hand or score the final blow. Both appearance and edge can be used with any weapon as they are the product of technique and not tied to a fencer’s equipment.

Main Hand: Every fencing style requires a sword and each blade offers a unique benefit that only a fencer trained in the blade can use.

Off Hand: Fencers employ a variety of off-hand techniques and weapons, usually for defensive purposes. A fencer only gains the benefit of a main hand or off hand weapon when using the appropriate gear.

To create a swordplay stunt, pick one item from each list of elements at character creation. You can advance your swordplay stunt as a campaign progresses. When you reach a significant milestone, add one additional item to your swordplay stunt—this is in place of a new skill point since this game does not use skills. Keep in mind that Main Hand and Off Hand elements can only be used with the corresponding gear.

Armor and Weapon Ratings

Armor and Weapon ratings improve a character’s defense and offense, respectively. A Weapon rating adds to the shifts of a successful hit while an armor rating reduces the shifts of a successful hit. Weapon and Armor values effectively cancel one another.

Weapon and Armor do not change the total of an action. Success with style still requires beating the opponent by three shifts or more. If the attacker has a Weapon rating, a tie results in a hit of shifts equal to the Weapon rating.

Appearance

Acrobatic: Gain +1 to create an advantage when using obstacles, furniture, or terrain for superior positioning.

Flashy: Gain +1 to create an advantage when intimidating an opponent with a demonstration of your style.

Quick: Gain +1 when determining turn order.

Steady: When you succeed with style creating an advantage, gain +1 to your next defense roll.

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